Research Institutes Hire World-Renowned Scholars as 'National Special Research Fellows' Through Internal Recruitment

Flexible Supplementation of Vacancies Such as Those on Leave
More Flexible Budget Execution for Personnel Expenses
Ministry of Science and ICT Implements 'Regulations on the Operation of Government-Funded Research Institutes in the Science and Technology Field'

Government-funded research institutes (GFRIs) can now hire outstanding researchers, including renowned domestic and international scholars, as 'National Specially Appointed Researchers' with exceptional compensation to enhance research competitiveness. Additionally, they can set separate 'internal quotas' to flexibly fill vacancies such as those caused by leave of absence, and budgets for personnel expenses and operating costs can be managed more flexibly.

The Ministry of Science and ICT established and enacted on the 4th the "Regulations on the Operation of Government-Funded Research Institutes in the Science and Technology Field," which allow science and technology GFRIs to respond to rapidly changing technological environments and secure competitiveness through autonomous and responsible management.

The Ministry of Science and ICT established the "Regulations on the Operation of Government-Funded Research Institutes in the Field of Science and Technology" and issued and implemented it on the 4th. The photo is not directly related to the article content. Photo by Asia Economy DB

The enactment of these operational regulations is a follow-up measure to the Ministry's actions last year, including the removal of GFRIs from the list of public institutions in January and the formulation of innovation plans for GFRIs in June. Its significance lies in creating a foundation for the practical implementation and establishment of improvement tasks at the field level.

The most notable aspect of the enacted regulations is the allowance of special recruitment for 'National Specially Appointed Researchers.' Until now, GFRIs faced limitations in hiring specific talents needed for leading research quickly due to recruitment through open competition and compensation system restrictions. Going forward, they can promptly respond to rapidly changing policy and technology demands by hiring National Specially Appointed Researchers.

The National Specially Appointed Researcher system is designed to comprehensively remove various regulations so that GFRIs can secure outstanding researchers, including renowned domestic and international scholars, to enhance their research competitiveness. These researchers can be hired on a three-year fixed-term basis without open competition, and a separate compensation system is allowed to provide exceptional pay without being bound by retirement age.

Similar to how the Korea Aerospace Research Institute recruited John Lee, Head of the Aerospace Mission Headquarters, with a more exceptional treatment than Director Yoon Young-bin last year, GFRIs aim not to fall behind in the competition for talent acquisition.

Budgets for personnel expenses, operating costs, and major project expenses can also be utilized more flexibly. Previously, improvements in treatment for researchers were hindered because spending limits in project plans could not be exceeded. From now on, personnel expenses can be flexibly managed through adjustments throughout the year if necessary, and especially, GFRIs can use their own technology fee revenues for personnel expenses.

Furthermore, electricity and gas fees will no longer apply uniform increase or decrease rates as before but will be separately budgeted considering rate fluctuations. Major project expenses can be adjusted between tasks at the discretion of the institute head.

However, to ensure that GFRIs do not operate wastefully based on expanded autonomy and maintain transparency and accountability as government-funded institutions, principles such as management disclosure and rational welfare system operation will be maintained in accordance with public institution standards.

Onjeongseong, Team Leader of the Research Institute Innovation Support Team at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "Since these operational regulations, which did not previously exist, have been established, future issues in the field or amendments to related regulations will be discussed centered on these regulations," adding, "We plan to continuously supplement these regulations by collecting opinions through public activities such as forums."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.